BRACEBRIDGE CHILDREN’S PLACE DAY CARE PLAYGROUND AT MMO TARGETTED SECOND TIME THIS MONTH BY MISCHIEVOUS VANDALS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

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BRACEBRIDGE — After damaging a day care playground Canada Day weekend, police say vandals were back a little more than three weeks later targetting the year-round kids school for a second time just days ago.

“It’s frustrating,” Bracebridge Children’s Place managing director Sarah McKay said this afternoon. “But the outpouring from the community has been amazing. We’re thankful.”

None of the day care children were present when the vandalism occurred.

She said it’s not the first, second or even third time it’s happened — at least.

“It seems like it’s been lot of times.”

But it was quickly cleaned up and “made safe” for the 31 licensed children who attend — 15 toddlers and 16 preschoolers.

The OPP says it is investigating the latest two occurrences of “mischief” to playground equipment at the Bracebridge Children’s Place, located at Monsignor Michael O’Leary (MMO) elementary school, just off Hwy. 118 West near the Ball’s Flats business corridor.

Several items were broken, including this tiny picnic table that already some community member has offered to replace. “The community outreach has been amazing,” said Sarah MacKay, the day care’s managing director. PHOTOS OPP

It’s one of the Muskoka Family Focus day cares.

They also run an after-school program during the year for older children — but it is not open for operation during the summer.

Yesterday, Monday, July 27, police say they responded to a complaint of a “considerable amount of damage” to the playground and surrounding property at the Tamarack Trail location.

Unknown suspects entered the locked area sometime between Friday and Monday, July 24-7, causing thousands of dollars of damage.

Police said it is the second time this month the day-care centre has been the victim of mischief of this nature. The first was between July 3-6.

McKay said the most recent incident left a broken lock and equipment toppled over including its outdoor toy shed.

“It’s so disheartening to come in and find this,” as staff did Monday.

She suspects it may just be “bored kids.”

Earlier in July toys left outside were tossed around the yard, broken and thrown on the roof of the shed.

“Toys had been left out that were broken. Garbage and things like that. One toy, a little climber piece we have for the kids was toppled over.”

A lock on a gate to the playground was forced open, after the day care had secured the yard years ago and had no really serious incidents until the two recent ones in early and late July.

MacKay says already someone has volunteered to make a tiny “new picnic table for the kiddos, which is amazing.”

So she estimates the damage for both incidents was about the same — and won’t cost “that much” this time with the public’s help to repair and put right.

“You know, we have to have playground inspections (including early next month). And we have to have our equipment up to code and all of those kinds of things.”

Over the years there have been similar incidents at the locked and gated yard.

The most recent case had a lock forced open.

She said after other incidents they added the locks.

“And it worked for many years. We never had any issues. And then, all of a sudden, this year it seems like, you know, every few weeks we seem to have vandalism back there.

“So whether it’s, you know, just a group of bored, you know, people or teenagers, or whatever. I don’t know what it is or who they are.”

She suspects maybe kids in the Grade 7 and 8 age range.

“There are public playgrounds next door at MMO. They’re welcome to use the playground there for the school-age kids.”

The Bracebridge Children’s Place has it’s own room and separate entrance attached to MMO.

Toys and play structures were tossed aroud last weekend. But were quickly put back and in safe order, said MacKay.

“We’re hoping people will keep an eye on us” and the yard as they drive by after they close at 5:30 p.m. “And, you know, maybe say: “Hey, you shouldn’t be back there.’ Or, “hey, get out of there or whatever.”

MacKay said: “We’ve had a really surprising outpouring from the community. We put it on social media because we’re pretty sure it’s likely some young kids.

“It’s like just, you know, putting it out there to be like, ‘Hey, just check in with your kids kind of thing.

“No, honestly it’s been … our community is so amazing. And we’re very thankful for the people reaching out to us to help us.”

The police investigation is ongoing and they ask that if anyone with information to call the OPP in Bracebridge at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or crimestopperssdm.com.

Bracebridge Children’s Place is attached to Monsignor Michael O’Leary Catholic elementary school near Ball’s Flats in Bracebridge off Hwy. 118 West. PHOTO Google

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